Jeff Tweedy Writes Letter Supporting Same-Sex Marriage

Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy has issued a letter to his home state of Illinois urging for the passing of SB 10 in the Illinois state senate, which would allow for same-sex couples to legally wed.

As Tweedy notes, “nine other states have already extended the freedom to marry to gay and lesbian couples.” He cites “a lifetime of commitment” as the chief motivation of marriage, but beyond that, it should be mentioned that many other benefits of marriage, from the ability to make decisions for each other in case of emergencies to certain economic benefits that should come from two people living as one household, are also withheld from gay and lesbian couples and that seems unjust on the most basic of levels.

“I was raised in Belleville and still happily reside in Illinois. Over the last few decades, I’ve had the good fortune as a member of the band Wilco to play music in every state in the union and in countless other countries. In my travels, I’ve witnessed firsthand that gay and lesbian couples want to marry for the same reasons all of us do — to share a lifetime of commitment. I feel very strongly that everyone should be able to marry the person he or she loves and enjoy the dignity and respect that comes with that commitment.

By excluding same-sex couples from marriage, our state saddles them, their children and itself with second-class status. That is wrong, and it hurts Illinois families and businesses.

Nine other states have already extended the freedom to marry to gay and lesbian couples. I work and have friends in all those states, and I can say assuredly that it’s time for Illinois to join them. Waiting and sending the signal that we’re not open to and supportive of that community is a big mistake. The time is now.

I hope you’ll join me in calling on the Illinois General Assembly to give same-sex couples the freedom to marry by supporting SB 10.